Adam Silver NBA should be exploring expansion

OKLAHOMA CITY – Commissioner Adam Silver has offered hope to cities looking to land an NBA franchise, saying on June 5 that the league “should be exploring” expansion.

He addressed the media in his annual state-of-the-league talk ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the host Oklahoma City Thunder.

Regarding the addition of teams, Silver said: “I don’t think it’s automatic, because it depends on your perspective on the future of the league.

“As I’ve said before, expansion in a way is selling equity in the league. If you believe in the league, you don’t necessarily want to add partners.

“On the other hand, we recognise there are underserved markets in the United States and elsewhere – I think markets that deserve to have NBA teams. Probably even if we were to expand, more than we can serve.”

In terms of potential expansion locations, he added: “There’s been no lack of interest. I essentially have said to people from several different cities, ‘We’re just not engaging in that process right now’.

“I want to be fair to everyone. So I don’t want to have meetings with some and not others. So if we were to say yes, we’re now going to move into a more formal exploratory phase... We would take those meetings, and in addition likely we would engage with outside advisers who would look at markets, look at economic opportunities and media opportunities, etc.”

The NBA has not expanded since the then-Charlotte Bobcats joined ahead of the 2004-05 season. Las Vegas and Seattle are widely viewed as the top targets for future teams, with Mexico City potentially in the mix, too.

Silver also addressed several other topics.

1. While a spate of regular-season injuries prompted speculation about the NBA cutting down the